The Queen's handshakes - in pictures
The Queen will meet and shake hands with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness on Wednesday. The Queen has shaken hands with thousands of people during her reign, including controversial figures, world leaders and pop stars
-
Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness
Photograph: Getty Images
-
The Queen receives the president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, in the private audience room at Buckingham Palace
Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images
-
Joan Collins curtsies as she meets the Queen during a celebration of the arts at the Royal Academy of Arts in London
Photograph: Rex Features
-
The former South African president Nelson Mandela at Buckingham PalacePhotograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA Archive
-
-
A royal greeting for Hayrunnisa Gul, the wife of the president of Turkey, Abdullah Gul (centre). The former British prime minister John Major looks on during a ceremony and reception in WhitehallPhotograph: Toby Melville/PA
-
The queen with President Nicolae Ceausescu, of the Socialist Republic of Romania, at the start of his state visit, the first to be made by a Communist head of statePhotograph: PA
-
US president Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan welcome the Queen to their ranch at Rancho del Cielo, California
Photograph: Ronald Reagan Library/Getty Images
-
The Queen shakes hands with the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, after a five-day state visit to the Gulf region
Photograph: Getty Images
-
-
US president George Bush shakes hands with the Queen as he and his wife leave Buckingham PalacePhotograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA
-
The Queen meets the Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as his wife, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, looks on prior to a lunch with Commonwealth nations heads of government
Photograph: Getty Images
-
A greeting for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican
Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images
-
Dr John Sentamu, the archbishop of York, gets to touch the royal glove during the inauguration of the ninth General Synod of the Church of England, in Westminster AbbeyPhotograph: Rex Features
-
-
David Cameron bows as the Queen arrives for a lunch to celebrate the Duke of Edinburgh's 90th birthday
Photograph: Indigo/Getty Images
-
The Queen meets American singer Lady Gaga following the royal variety performance in Blackpool
Photograph: PA
-
Robert Mugabe on a state visit to Britain
Photograph: Rex Features
-
Barack and Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace
Photograph: Getty Images
-
